Information display in a rearview mirror

ABSTRACT

An information display system for a vehicle includes a reverse image display and a rearview mirror. The reverse image display is positioned rearwardly of a driver of the vehicle such that an image of the message being displayed is reflected from the rearview mirror and received in reverse order and thus readable by the driver. A control may be included which activates the reverse image display in response to an input and may vary the intensity, color and/or frequency of repeat of the display in response to other inputs. The control may convey multiple messages through a single reverse image display or through multiple displays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a vehicle is being driven, there is certain information that thedriver may require or desire to see while driving. The advancement oftechnology and consumer demands have resulted in more information beingreadily displayed on the instrument panel of the vehicle, which hasfurther resulted in the instrument panel area of the vehicle interiorcabin becoming cluttered with a variety of information displays.Therefore, the driver of the vehicle may confuse one display withanother or may fail to notice a particular display because of thisclutter and the limited time the driver has to glance at the displays.The time in which it takes for the driver to look downward to read oneor more alphanumerical displays is critical since this corresponds totime that the driver is not looking forward toward where the vehicle isbeing driven. Concerns such as these are particularly critical for alphanumerical displays, such as digital speedometer displays, compassdisplays, and the like, where numbers and/or text are displayed to thedriver, and which require a longer period of time for the driver torecognize and comprehend the display than glancing at a simple symbol orthe like.

An interior rearview mirror is another appropriate location for placinginformation displays, since looking at the interior rearview mirror isan important part of driving a vehicle. Samples of rearview mirrorsincorporating information displays are disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Pat. No. 5,416,313, issued to Larson et al., which describes acompass display incorporated into a mirror reflector, and which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. However, incorporation of adisplay within the mirror reflector of the rearview mirror requires thatthe mirror reflective area be reduced to provide room for the display,thereby decreasing the field of vision of the driver rearwardly of thevehicle. Consequently, other displays have been placed on the mirrorcase chin or eyebrow, so as to avoid reducing the size of the mirrorreflective surface. An example is shown in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.No. Des. 391,214, issued to Hook et al., which shows a displaypositioned adjacent the lower edge of the interior mirror case, andwhich is hereby incorporated by reference herein. However, the use ofsuch displays may substantially increase the size of the mirror caseitself, thereby potentially restricting the driver's forward field ofview.

Another concern with displays being positioned on the instrument panelor on or around the rearview mirror is that it is difficult for adriver's eyes to adjust quickly to focus on the displays, as they are inclose proximity to the driver relative to the forward viewing throughthe windshield. When these displays are positioned in close proximity tothe driver, the driver's eyes have to adjust from a long focal length,when looking forward in the direction of travel or rearward via the rearview mirror, to a short focal length as the driver looks at theinstrument panel or the rear view mirror or mirror housing. This notonly requires additional time for the eyes to adjust, but also maybecome annoying to the driver as this process may be repeated multipletimes during even a short trip.

In an effort to remove certain displays from the instrument panel andfurther make them easier for the driver of the vehicle to see andrecognize them, heads up displays and other forward projecting displayshave been implemented to project a virtual image display that the drivermay easily glance at to read the information being communicated thereby.However, while providing the driver with the information in an opticallybeneficial manner, these displays may interfere with the forward fieldof view of the driver as the vehicle is driven down the road and arealso much more costly to manufacture and implement than conventionaldisplays positioned within the vehicle cabin area.

Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a display in a mannerthat maximizes both forward and rearward fields of view, and that iseconomical and commercially attractive to implement. The display must bepositioned in an area where a driver may quickly and easily glance atthe display to read the information being communicated thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to provide a display system for avehicle that maximizes both the forward and rearward fields of view,while being viewable in an area forward of the driver so as to be easilyviewed by the driver while driving the vehicle.

According to a first aspect to the invention, a display system for avehicle comprises a display, which is located on the vehicle rearward ofthe driver and is a reverse image display of the signal or informationto be received by the driver. A rearview mirror is included such thatthe display is viewable as a mirror image in reverse order by thevehicle driver in the rearview mirror.

According to another aspect of the invention, the display may bepositioned around the perimeter of a rear window of the vehicle, so asnot to interfere with the rearward field of view of the driver, whilestill being easily viewed and readable via the rearview mirror.

According to still yet another aspect of the invention, a control may beincluded which actuates the display in response to an electronic input.The control may also vary the intensity, color and/or frequency of thedisplay, and/or an auxiliary light or display, depending on the inputreceived by the control.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thisinvention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away of a vehicleincorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an interior rearview mirror as viewed bythe vehicle driver and showing the view rearwardly of the driver of thevehicle visible in the reflective surface of the interior rearviewmirror;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view taken rearwardly from within the vehicle ofthe information displays adjacent the rear window of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing alternate locations for theinformation displays of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle with an information displayexteriorly mounted on the rear deck of the vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a CHMSL housing incorporating anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the CHMSL housing of FIG. 6 takenalong line VII--VII in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control function of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now specifically to the drawings and the illustrativeembodiments depicted therein, a vehicle display system 10 is positionedat least partially within a vehicle 12 and provides the driver of thevehicle with informational messages. Display system 10 includes areverse image display 14, preferably positioned within the vehicle inthe vicinity of a rear window 18 of the vehicle, and an interior rearview mirror 20 positioned forwardly of the driver such as on theinterior windshield surface. Rear view mirror 20 has a reflectiveelement 22, such as a glass or plastic prism, coated on its secondsurface with a reflective coating in a conventionally known fashion.Alternately, rearview mirror element 22 can be a planar or a prismaticelement, or an electro-optic element such as an electrochromic mirrorassembly incorporating an electrochromic medium whose light reflectivityvaries with the electrical voltage applied thereto. Mirror element 22receives an image of the reverse image display 14 and reflects areversed mirror image 24 of the display toward the driver. Mirror 20reverses the reverse image display 14 so that the display informationmay be read and understood by the driver. A control circuit 40 (FIG. 8)may also be included in the display system which activates the reverseimage display 14 in response to an electronic input. By presenting adisplay to the driver of the vehicle as a reflection in the rear viewmirror 20, the display system of the present invention does not requirea portion of the reflective surface of the rear view mirror 20 to beremoved, thereby resulting in minimal or substantially no reduction ofthe rearward field of view of the driver. Furthermore, the forward fieldof view of the driver is likewise not interfered with, in that themessage is displayed on the rear view mirror reflective surface, anddoes not require mirror case chin or eyebrow display surfaces which mayrestrict the driver's forward field of view.

The reverse image display 14 of the present invention is locatedrearward of the driver and the information displayed is viewable andinterpretable by the driver by looking forward toward the windshield andviewing the reflected image of the rear cabin mounted display in theinterior rear view mirror. Conceivably, however, the display may bepositioned so as to be viewable in an exterior mirror of the vehicle,such as a side mirror, with a reverse image display 14f being positionedrearward of the driver location such as on a side body panel 25 or sidebody element (FIG. 5). The reverse image display 14f may be positionedon a forward face 25a of a housing 25b extending outwardly from the sidebody panel 25 of the vehicle 12. Preferably, however, the reverse imagedisplay 14 is positioned within the passenger compartment 26 of thevehicle, either as a trim item around the rear window 18 or otherwisepositioned adjacent a peripheral edge 28 of the rear window. The display14 may be positioned generally horizontally on a forward face of acenter high mounted stop light (CHMSL) or on a trim structure attachedto the upper cabin area substantially adjacent an upper edge 28a of therear window. Most preferably, the display is placed at 14a at the centerupper portion of the rear window or back light 18, so that it is lesslikely to be blocked or occluded by the heads of rear seat passengerswithin the vehicle. However, the display may be positioned in otherareas around the perimeter of the rear window 18 such as at 14b at thecenter, lower perimeter 28b of rear window 18 (FIG. 3), or at 14c or 14din vertically oriented positions on the left or right side of rearwindow 18 in the rear window pillars (FIG. 4). Alternately, the displaymay even be positioned outside of the vehicle, such as at 14e on anupper surface of a trunk, rear deck, or spoiler 30 or the like (FIG. 5).By positioning the display in these areas, the display does notinterfere with the rearward field of view of the driver through the rearview mirror, as the display is positioned in an area where otherportions of the vehicle are already generally framing the driver'srearward field of view.

The reverse image display 14 preferably conveys informational messagesto the driver of the vehicle. Preferably, the information provided bythe display will be in reverse alphanumeric form, and will communicatevehicle status information and the like. For example, the display may bea digital speedometer display, compass direction display, interiorand/or exterior temperature display, pager display, radio stationdisplay, CD player track display, tire pressure display, globalpositioning system (GPS) display, toll booth payment display, messagecenter display, cellular phone number display, passenger air bag statusdisplay and the like.

The reverse image display 14 of the present invention is preferably anemitting display such as a vacuum fluorescent display or a lightemitting diode (LED) display, although other display types such as anelectroluminescent display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or anelectrochromic display may be used. Alternatively, the display may be aback lit display, with a light-emitting source occasionally directingillumination through a pattern formed in the display. In order to obtainan appropriate image size, so that the driver of the vehicle maycorrectly and readily read the information displayed, the desiredcharacter size of the reverse image display is preferably at least 5 mm.More preferably, the characters have a size of at least 7 mm, and mostpreferably of at least 10 mm. By providing characters of these preferredsizes, the reflected image of the reverse image display 14 in therearview mirror 20 is of a size that may be easily read by the driver ofthe vehicle, but without excessive interference with the viewing arearearward of the vehicle. The display may be a multi-pixel display, adot-matrix display, an active matrix display and/or may be a scrollingdisplay.

As shown in FIG. 8, the control 40 of the present invention activatesthe reverse image display 14 in response to an electronic input from oneor more sources, and may further activate one or more displays orauxiliary lights if so desired. The input may be from a digitalspeedometer, compass, temperature gauge, pager, radio, CD player, tirepressure gauge [such as by pressure sensors located at the wheel tiresthat communicate by radio frequency to the image display device locatedwithin the vehicle interior cabin], message center, passenger air bagcontrols, cellular phone controls, global positioning system (GPS) andthe like. The display system may be set to display the status of asingle component, or may be set to alternatingly display the status ofone or more of the components, and further display other messagesdepending on the input signal to the control. The control of the presentinvention thus may activate one or more reverse image displays based onone or more signals received by the control, and may further activateone or more auxiliary lights or other displays elsewhere within thevehicle.

In addition to varying the messages displayed on the reverse imagedisplay 14, the control 40 of the present invention may further vary theintensity, color or frequency of the message being displayed on thereverse image display 14. For example, the intensity of the display mayvary dependent on the ambient lighting conditions, such as whether it isday or night. Preferably, a light sensor may be used to communicate withthe control such that during high ambient light conditions, the displayintensity is maximized, whereas under low ambient light conditions, suchas nighttime, the intensity of the display may be decreased. Preferably,the intensity of the display 14 may be minimized as ambient lightconditions fall below approximately 100 lux. Alternatively, theintensity may be linked to the dimming of other displays on theinstrument panel. If the rear view mirror reflector is an automaticelectrochromic (EC) mirror element, then the intensity of the displaypreferably increases during times when the reflectivity of the EC mirrorelement decreases. Thus, the intensity of the display, as read in the ECmirror, is preserved even though the reflection off the EC mirrorreflector has decreased due to the anti-glare dimming of the EC mirror.The light sensor or photo-sensor, which detects the amount of ambientlight present and communicates this information to the control whichthereby controls the display intensity, may be located adjacent to thedisplay element or distal from the display element, such as part of anautomatic EC rear view mirror circuit or vehicle head lamp activationcircuit. Also, when the interior rearview mirror is of the prismatictype that can be manually or automatically flipped from a normalreflecting mode (typically of reflectance greater than about 80%) to anantiglare mode (typically of reflectance about 4%), the intensity ofreverse image display 14 can be increased (such as by a ten or greaterfold increase in intensity) so that readability of the displayinformation as seen by the driver in reflection off the interior mirrorwhen in its flipped to its antiglare mode is preserved.

Although the intensity variation is described relative to the ambientlight present around the vehicle, other signals may trigger the controlto vary the light, color or frequency of reverse image display 14. Thesignals may come from a rearward facing camera (such as an active pixelimage array CMOS camera or a CCD camera), sonar, radar (includingDoppler radar), infrared beam/detector device or similar rear proximityapproaching sensor devices, such that the light, color, or frequency ofthe display message is dependent upon the proximity of a vehicle orother object rearward of the vehicle. For example, if another vehicle isapproaching the rear of the driver's vehicle, or is otherwise at anunsafe distance from the rear of the vehicle, the proximity sensor maysignal the control to activate a display warning the driver againstsudden braking or the like. The display may further increase inintensity, change to a different color, or flash at a more frequent rateas the distance detected between the driver's vehicle and the otherobject lessens. By changing the appearance of the display as thecondition that is being communicated worsens, the present inventionsubstantially reduces the possibility that the driver will be unaware ofthe problem. The control may also activate an auxiliary light or displayelsewhere in the vehicle to further warn the driver of a particularcondition that is detected. The proximity detector system may even belinked to vehicle braking to modulate the degree of braking of thevehicle based on the proximity and rate of approach of arear-approaching vehicle. Thus, tailgating accidents may besubstantially reduced or obviated.

Reverse image display 14 may also be linked to an active cruise controlsystem and/or collision avoidance system of the vehicle that uses aforward facing sensor (such as a CCD or a CMOS camera, a sonar system,an ultrasound system, or a radar system such as a Doppler radar systemor the like) to detect the presence of, distance to, and/or rate ofapproach to another vehicle or object in front of, and being approachedby, the vehicle equipped with reverse image display 14. Reverse imagedisplay 14 can display a warning message to the driver and/or candisplay the closing distance or the rate of close to the forward vehicleor object as an alphanumeric display. Likewise, where a back-up aid isprovided on the vehicle that detects how close the vehicle is to anobject that the vehicle is backing up to (such as provided by ultrasonicsensors and/or camera-vision systems which are typically mounted in thetrunk area of the vehicle), the distance to the rearwardly locatedobject may be displayed alphanumerically to the driver by reverse imagedisplay 14. The driver can view the reflected image of reverse imagedisplay 14 in the rearview mirror, and thus the driver can convenientlyreverse into a parking space or the like without needing to turn aroundto look rearward. As a further option, a personal pager that the driveror any other vehicle occupant carries about them to receive pagerinformation may be plugged into a slot or receptacle provided within theinterior cabin so that any pager information received is communicated tothe driver via the driver viewing in the rearview mirror reflector theimage of that pager information, as displayed by reverse image display14. Optionally and preferably, such a pager-receiving receptacle couldbe provided on, at or within the interior rearview mirror assemblyitself. Also, reverse image display 14 may generate information producedby forward facing and/or rearward facing night vision systems such asare known in the night vision art. Also, information from blind-spotdetectors, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,772, entitledVEHICLE BLIND SPOT DETECTION DISPLAY SYSTEM, assigned to the sameassignee as the present application, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein, may be displayed by reverse imagedisplay 14 for viewing by the driver in the interior rearview mirrorand/or exterior side view mirrors.

Preferably, the display 14 element of the present invention is mountedwithin a forward facing surface of the center high mounted stoplight(CHMSL) 32, so as to avoid limiting the driver's rearward field of view(FIG. 6). The CHMSL includes an illumination source 33, which may be anincandescent light or more preferably a light emitting diode (LED) orlight emitting phosphormatic. A typical CHMSL housing 32a is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, and includes a reverse image display 14 on its forwardface 32b. A rearward face 32c of the CHMSL housing 32a is typicallypositioned substantially adjacent the rear window 18. As shown in FIG.7, the illumination source 33 is located within the CHMSL housing 32a toprovide illumination rearward through a semi-transparent, and typicallyred colored, cover 32d, to signal drivers of other vehicles rearward ofthe vehicle 12 that the brakes of vehicle 12 have been applied. If thereverse image display 14 is a back lit display, illumination from theillumination source 33 of CHMSL 32 also projects forwardly, through aplurality of openings or slots 34 which combine to form the alphanumericdisplay. The slots 34 may be covered by a colored, semi-transparentcover to project the display to the driver in a preferred color. Thedriver of the vehicle 12 then may detect and easily read the display asthe light projecting therethrough is reflected toward the driver by theinterior rear view mirror 20. The CHMSL may be a separate housing asshown, or may alternatively be included as a trim item at the upper orlower edges of the rear window.

A CHMSL control, such as control 40 described above, may also vary thelight in the CHMSL depending on the braking rate of the vehicle or,similarly, depending on the severity or intensity of braking by thedriver of the vehicle. The CHMSL control may vary either the lightintensity, the color of the light, the rate of repeat of the light as itmay flash on and off, or further cause an auxiliary light to beactivated in a manner similar to the control 40 for the display, asdiscussed above. The severity or intensity of braking may be determinedby a pressure or load sensor on a brake pedal, or by an acceleration ordeceleration sensor capable of measuring G forces on the vehicle, or bya rear facing camera, sonar, radar (such as Doppler radar), infraredbeam/detector device, or similar rear proximity approaching sensordevice. A rear proximity sensor device or the like may be used totrigger the CHMSL light and variations thereof independent of braking ofthe vehicle by the driver. This allows the CHMSL to automatically warn adriver of another vehicle that he or she is unreasonably close to thevehicle incorporating the present invention. The reverse image displaymay be backlit by the stoplights within the CHMSL, such that the driveris aware that the CHMSL light has been activated and is thus furtheraware of the other vehicle or object being unreasonably close.Alternatively, the sensor device may further communicate with thecontrol 40 of the reverse image display 14 so as to activate the displayto communicate the proximity of the approaching vehicle or to otherwisewarn the driver of the vehicle to be careful about sudden braking.Optionally, a digital readout of the proximity of an approaching ornearby vehicle may be displayed. Also, a back up distance to an objectrearward of the vehicle may be displayed to communicate to the driverthe proximity of objects as the vehicle is driven in reverse.

Preferably, CHMSL control 40 includes a piezoelectric type accelerometersensor, most preferably packed in an integrated circuit type package orchip. More preferably, the G-force sensor and its associated circuitryare provided as a unitary CHMSL control module 37 (FIG. 7) that islocated at, within or on the CHMSL assembly that is located rearward ofthe driver at or close to the rear window. Most preferably, the CHMSLmodule 37 is located within the housing of the CHMSL assembly so that itis substantially protected thereby and substantially hidden from view.CHMSL module 37 can receive an ignition supply (typically 12 volts orthereabouts) from the vehicle ignition system. Location of the CHMSLcontrol (preferably including a G-force sensor such as an accelerometersensor) local to, adjacent to, at or within the CHMSL assembly has theadvantage of substantially obviating the need for a wiring connection tothe likes of the brake pedal at the front of the vehicle cabin as is thecase where a pressure sensor or the like is linked to the brake pedal tosense braking force with its output fed back to the rear mounted CHMSLassembly via a wire connection (or digitally via a car area network(CAN) or multiplex system such as is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S.Pat. No. 5,798,575 issued to O'Farrell et al., or PCT InternationalApplication No. WO 97/34780, published Sep. 25, 1997 to Fletcher et al.,the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein).

The display system 10 of the present invention may further include asighting mark 35 (FIG. 2) to easily and properly align the mirror anddisplay for the proper rearward field of view which includes the reverseimage display. The driver may adjust the rear view mirror 20 so that aring or mark 35 on the reflective surface 22 of mirror 20 is alignedwith a corresponding ring or mark 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4) positioned eitheron the rear window or in the vicinity thereof. This allows for differentdrivers to operate the vehicle and easily set the rear view mirror toreflect an image not only of the scenic information rearward of thevehicle, but also of any and all reverse image displays 14, 14a, 14b,14c, 14d or 14e in the vicinity of the rear window 18, as a new drivermay not be initially aware of the mirror image displays. Furthermore, anautomatic mirror memory system, where the mirror alignments preferred bythe viewing driver are electronically stored, may be set to positionssuch that any and all of the displays are included in the imagereflected toward the driver when the stored setting is recalled by thatdriver.

Therefore, an information display is provided in a rear view mirrorwhich provides the driver of the vehicle with messages and otherinformation regarding the status of the vehicle or the like. Whendriving the vehicle, the reflective element of an interior rearviewmirror may be adjusted to view rearward through the rear window of thevehicle or simply rearwardly of the vehicle if the vehicle is aconvertible with the top down. The image seen in the mirror includes thetop, sides and/or bottom of the rear window assembly. By placing adisplay rearward of the driver, such as in the front of the CHMSL, theinformation displayed, because it is displayed in a reversed, mirrorimage form, can be read by the driver by looking at a reflection of thedisplay in the rear view mirror. Therefore, by quickly looking in therear view mirror, the driver can correctly and readily read theinformation display, and moreover, the image as seen in the mirror is avirtual image, thus giving the driver the optical benefits usually onlydeliverable by much more costly and complicated devices such as a headsup display. This avoids the concern of a driver's eyes having to quicklyadjust from long distance focusing as the driver looks forward to shortdistance focusing as the driver looks down at the instrument panel or toa display on or around the reflective surface of the rear view mirror.The end result is a low cost display system which provides a driver withquick and easy viewing of the display, with minimal interference ofeither the forward or rearward field of view of the driver.

Optionally, a non-reverse image display may be located horizontallymounted such as in the package tray area that abuts the rear window atthe rear of the vehicle cabin. The image from this display can bereflected off a mirror surface (such as a metalized glass substrate)forward from the rear of the cabin toward the interior rear view mirroras a reverse image reflection of the horizontally mounted non-reverseimage display. This reverse image is viewed by the driver in reflectionoff the interior rear view mirror, and thus the driver sees a normal,non-reverse image of the display.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the invention,which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A display system of avehicle comprising:a display, said display being positionable on thevehicle rearward of a driver of the vehicle, said display being operableto provide a reverse image display of information to be received by thedriver; and a rearview mirror assembly positionable forwardly of thedriver and comprising a mirror reflective element, said display beingremotely and rearwardly positioned from said rearview mirror assembly,said reverse image display being viewable by the driver as a readablemirror image of said reverse image display at said mirror reflectiveelement of said rearview mirror assembly, said display being operable tovary an intensity of said reverse image display in response to a levelof ambient light present at the vehicle.
 2. The display system of claim1, wherein said reverse image display is an alpha-numeric informationdisplay which conveys information to the driver of the vehicle.
 3. Thedisplay system of claim 1, wherein said reverse image display ispositioned on a forward face of a center high mounted stop light on thevehicle.
 4. The display system of claim 1, wherein said reverse imagedisplay is positioned within the vehicle.
 5. The display system of claim4, wherein said reverse image display is positioned along a trim itemsurrounding a rear window.
 6. The display system of claim 1, whereinsaid reverse image display is positioned on an exterior surface of thevehicle.
 7. The display system of claim 1 further including a controlwhich actuates said reverse image display in response to an input. 8.The display system of claim 7, wherein said control varies the intensityof said reverse image display in response to an input from aphoto-sensor, said photo-sensor determining the level of ambient lightpresent at the vehicle.
 9. The display system of claim 8, wherein saidcontrol decreases the intensity of said reverse image display as thelevel of ambient light decreases.
 10. The display system of claim 7,wherein said control varies a color of said reverse image display inresponse to an electronic signal.
 11. The display system of claim 7,wherein said control varies a frequency of repeating said reverse imagedisplay in response to an electronic signal.
 12. The display system ofclaim 7, wherein said control further activates an auxiliary display inresponse to an electronic signal.
 13. The display system of claim 7,wherein said control activates said reverse image display in response toa rear proximity sensor, which senses the proximity of an object to therear of the vehicle in which said display system is mounted.
 14. Thedisplay system of claim 1, wherein said reverse image display is one ofa vacuum fluorescent display and a light-emitting diode display.
 15. Thedisplay system of claim 1, wherein said reverse image display is a backlit display.
 16. The display system of claim 15, wherein said reverseimage display is positioned within a forward face of a center highmounted stop light, said stop light providing illumination through saidreverse image display.
 17. The display system of claim 16, furthercomprising a display control which actuates said reverse image displayin response to an input, at least one of a stop light control and saiddisplay control activating said stop light independent of braking of thevehicle, said stop light simultaneously providing illumination rearwardof the vehicle and substantially forward through said reverse imagedisplay to communicate information to the driver.
 18. The display systemof claim 1 further including a plurality of reverse image displays, eachof said plurality of reverse image displays being viewable at saidmirror reflective element of said rearview mirror assembly.
 19. Thedisplay system of claim 18 further including a control, said pluralityof reverse image displays being activated by said control in response toat least one input.
 20. The display system of claim 1, wherein saidrearview mirror assembly is an interior rearview mirror assembly. 21.The display system of claim 1, wherein said rearview mirror assembly isan exterior side rearview mirror assembly.
 22. The display system ofclaim 1 further including a control and a photo-sensor, saidphoto-sensor determining the level of ambient light present at thevehicle, said control being operable to adjust the intensity of saidreverse image display in response to the level of ambient light presentat the vehicle.
 23. A display system for use in a vehicle having arearview mirror assembly which includes a reflective element, saiddisplay system comprising:a reverse image display, said reverse imagedisplay be positionable on the vehicle rearward of a driver of thevehicle, said reverse image display being operable to provide a displayof information to be received by the driver via reflection from thereflective element of the rearview mirror assembly toward the driver;and a control which activates said reverse image display in response toan input, said display of information being viewable by the driver as amirror image reflected by the reflective element, the reflected imagebeing readable and understandable by the driver, said control beingoperable to vary an intensity of said reverse image display in responseto an input from a photo-sensor, said photo-sensor determining a levelof ambient light present at the vehicle.
 24. The display system of claim23, wherein said control decreases the intensity of said reverse imagedisplay as the level of ambient light decreases.
 25. The display systemof claim 23, wherein said control varies a color of said reverse imagedisplay in response to an electronic signal.
 26. The display system ofclaim 23, wherein said control varies a frequency of repeating saidreverse image display in response to an electronic signal.
 27. Thedisplay system of claim 23, wherein said control further activates anauxiliary display in response to an electronic signal.
 28. The displaysystem of claim 23, wherein said control activates said reverse imagedisplay in response to a rear proximity sensor, which senses theproximity of an object to the rear of the vehicle in which said displaysystem is mounted.
 29. A display system for use in a vehiclecomprising:a reverse image display positionable at the vehicle andrearwardly of a driver of the vehicle, said reverse image display beingoperable to provide visible reverse image information in a forwarddirection with respect to the vehicle; and a variable reflectancerearview mirror assembly comprising a variable reflectance rearviewmirror element, said variable reflectance rearview mirror assembly beingoperable to adjust a degree of reflectivity from said variablereflectance rearview mirror element, the visible information of saidreverse image display being viewable by the driver as a reflection fromsaid variable reflectance rearview mirror element, said reverse imagedisplay being operable to adjust an intensity of the visible informationin response to a level of reflectivity of said variable reflectancerearview mirror element.
 30. The display system of claim 29, whereinsaid variable reflectance rearview mirror element comprises anelectrochromic mirror element which is electrically operable to vary thelevel of reflectance of said electrochromic mirror element, said reverseimage display being operable to adjust the intensity of the visibleinformation in response to the level of reflectance of saidelectrochromic mirror element.
 31. The display system of claim 30,wherein said electrochromic mirror element is operable to adjust thelevel of reflectance of said electrochromic mirror element in responseto a level of ambient light present at the vehicle.
 32. The displaysystem of claim 31 further including a photo-sensor, said photo-sensorbeing operable to determine the level of ambient light present at thevehicle, said electrochromic mirror element being electrically operableto vary the level of reflectance of said electrochromic mirror elementin response to said photo-sensor.
 33. The display system of claim 29,wherein said variable reflectance rearview mirror element comprises aprismatic mirror element which is manually adjustable to reflect a firstlevel of reflectance in a day mode and a second level of reflectance ina night mode, said first level of reflectance being greater than saidsecond level of reflectance.
 34. The display system of claim 29, whereinsaid reverse image display is operable to increase the intensity of thevisible information in response to a decrease in the level ofreflectivity of said variable reflectance rearview mirror element. 35.The display system of claim 29 further including a control, said controlbeing operable to vary the intensity of the visible information inresponse to the level of reflectance of said variable reflectancerearview mirror element.